On a recent survey, 60% of those surveyed indicated that they preferred walking to running. if 540 people preferred walking, how many people were surveyed?

To solve this problem, let's set up a proportion.

60% = 6/10

Let x represent the total amount of people surveyed (or what we are trying to find)

6/10 = 540/x 

To solve this proportion, let's use cross products, or the multiplication of the numerator of one fraction times the denominator of the other fraction and setting them equal to one another.

10(540) = x(6)

Now, let's simplify the resulting equation.

5400 = 6x

Now, let's divide both sides by 6, or the coefficient of x, to get it alone on the right side of the equation.

x= 900

Therefore, if 540 people preferred walking, then 900 people were surveyed.